Self-attaching wire holder



Oct. 2, 1945. w. H. MAACK SELF ATTACHING WIRE HOLDER Filed April 26, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. "A 1 ///4/4 CV ATTOIQf/Ey Oct. 2, 1945. w. H. MAACK 2,386,129

SELF ATTACHING WIRE HOLDER Filed April 26, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fla-.1 E

IN VEN TOR. M1727 6 flf/M m;

Patented Oct. 2, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SELF-ATTACHING WIRE HOLDER Walter Henry Maack, Collinsville; Ill.

Application April 26, 1944, Serial No. 532,908

4 Claims.

The invention has for an object to present a novel improvement in devices for attaching wires to supports, and while in its present embodiment it is especially valuable and adapted to use in applying wires to conventional metal fence posts now largely used, in either of two forms which are principally used, one form being T-shaped in cross section, and the other L-shaped in cross section, it is an important aim of this invention to provide a wire fastener for posts and the like which may be put inplace without the use of fastenings, and which will be retained in place with great certainty and security.

It is a particular aim of the invention to present a device by which the wires may be secured thereto without the use of fastenings, but utilizing the normal tension upon such wires to cause them to retain their place securely to the support, and to present a novel method of attaching the wires to such support.

A further important aim of the invention is to present an article which is especially valuable in mounting wires which require to be insulated for charged fence elements. A still further important aim of the invention is to enable the production of such an article at extremely low cost, and so constructed as to require a minimum of time and effort in its placement upon a fencepost, and for the attachment of wires thereto.

A further important aim is to present such an article which will be liable in a minimum degree to damage or deterioration incident to rough usage and weather conditions.

A further important aim is to present such an article which, while being entirely removed in case of need for changing location of a post or the like, or in case it is to be re-used in other places or for other construction.

Additional objects, advantages and features of invention reside in the construction, arrangement and combination of parts involved in the embodiment of the invention, as will be more readily understood from the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is an elevational view of the article applied to a T-shaped fence post.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a cross section on the line 4-4 oi Fig. 1.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing the article applied to a further form of fence post.

Figure 6 is a cross section thereof taken on the line 66 of Figure 5.

Figure '7 is a front elevation of a still further application of the device to a further form of post.

Figure 8 is a, cross section on the line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is an elevation of the device applied to a further form of fence post.

- Figure 10 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 11 is a cross section on the line ll-H of Figure 9.

Figure 12 is an elevation of the device applied to a still further form of post.

Figure 13 is a side elevation thereof, partly in section.

Figure 14 is a cross section on the line i i-hi of Figure 12.

Figure 15 illustrates an instrument and manner of procedure in applying the wire to my support after its application to a post or the like.

Figure 16 is a top plan view of a further form of support.

Figure 17 is a cross section on the line 11-41 of Figure 16.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown an attachable bracket in, adapted to be applied to conventional metal fence posts. It consists of an elongated fiat metal strap-like body, which in Figures 1 to 13 has edges H and H and respective extremities I2, which are slightly reduced in width and tapered. The edge H is formed with an exterior tongue 13 to one side E3 of the vertical medial axis forming a recess l4. Midway of the strip at one side 13a, a bracket lug i5 is positioned which is extended from the surface of the bracket piece substantially at right angles, and in the present instance is shown as being substantially cylindrical. At a distance from the body plate i ll the lug is formed with small jaws it, having parallel sides spaced apart to form a vertical slot ii therebetween, the jaws being offset from each other beside the slot so that the bases it of the jaws are also spaced from a transverse or horizontal line, in order that the one at the right in Figure l is above such horizontal line, while the one at the left is below. Formed on each jaw there is a projecting bill N3, the one on the right extending downwardly, while the one at the left extends upwardly, these being spaced outwardly of the lu i5. so that a space I9 is formed under each of the jaws l8, adapted to receive and support a wire substantially as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. Regarding the device from the front as viewed in Figure 1, the

body portion ill of the bracket extends diagonally with respect to the horizontal, at an angle which may be in the neighborhood of forty-five degrees, or may be more or less. The extremities 12 of the body of the bracket are bent in a direction away from the lug I5 on vertical lines, and at a distance from the plane of the body portion In adjacent the lug, they are again bent, on parallel lines so as to extend inwardly under the body portion of the bracket, and diagonally, forming two retaining tongues 20, a space 2011 between these tongues and the body portion of the bracket It) being sufiicient to accommodate snugly the flanged portions of conventional fence posts, such as indicated at 2|, in Figure 1, which is a T- shaped section of rolled stock, having longitudinally spaced slots 22 in staggered relation on the head portion of the T-section, which have been heretofore used for receiving wire fasteners of various kinds. It should be noted that the tongue members 20 are extended diagonally and thelr edges trimmed so as to be spaced from each other sufficiently to permit the entrance therebetween by translative movement of the bracket at right angles to the post of the broad head portion 23, as dotted in Figure 1. It will be seen that as viewed from the front, the points of the tongues 20 of the bracket extend in a counter-clockwise direction while the bills l8 on the jaws It at the outer ends of the lugs l5, when viewed in the same direction, extend in a clockwise direction, which is an important detail, effecting the function of the device in its automatic retention upon a post, and in retaining an engaged wire, as will appear hereinafter. It should also be noted that the bends of the respective end portions of the tongue members 20 are so spaced from the corresponding bends of the opposite end portions that the head portion 23 of the post such as shown in Figure 1, may be inserted therebetween so as to lie parallel to the bends of the end portions of the bracket and closely adjacent thereto, as shown.

Reference is now made to Figure 4, wherein, it will be seen that the lug I5 has embedded or molded therein a square-headed bolt 24, located medial thereof upon the side opposite the jaws IS, the bolt having a reduced end 25 complemental to an opening 26 formed in the bracket plate Ill. The end of the bolt is peened or upset so as to securely retain the lug I5 to the plate.

In the use of the device as described, in order to apply a bracket to a post T-shaped in cross section, as in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the lug portion I5 is grasped in the hands and the bracket presented toward the outer side of the head portion 22 of the post, the axis of the lug normal to the plane of the head 23, and the bracket moved translatively toward the post, with the tongues 20 positioned so as to pass on each side of the post, the device being rotated if necessary, so as to afford the necessary clearance for this movement, so that the head portion 23 may engage against the under side of the body of the bracket Ill. The bracket is then rotated counter-clockwise, and if necessary, the tongues 20 may be driven inwardly so as to engage under the flanges of the head 22 by means of a hammer or the like. If necessary, to prevent the bracket from slipping downwardly upon the post, a stud device 21 may be engaged in one of the slots customarily formed in such posts, so that the lower edge of the bracket It] may rest against the stud. In order to mount a wire in the device, the wire previously strung and taut, is brought into position in front of the device on the post, that is, outwardly of the lug I5 or bills l8, and then pressure applied p n the wire upwardly at the left and downwardly at the right, at spaced points adjacent the lug l5, so that the intervening portions between these points of pressure, is caused to extend diagonally substantially as shown in Figure 15, so that it may then be pressed inwardly between the jaws l6 into the space H. After it passes inwardly of the bills l8, the pressure upon the wire is relieved and its tension will then cause it to straighten out, and engage under the bills l8 and against the respective lugs 16, engaging upwardly against the one at the right, and downwardly against the one at the left, thus tending to rotate the bracket in a counter-clockwise direction, which is the direction required to apply the tongues 20 in proper engagement behind the head portion 23 of the post, and retaining the bracket securely in proper engagement with the post, as well, as holding the wire in place, as will be understood.

In Figures 5 and 6 there is shown a form of post commercially available, in which a T-shaped section is involved, but upon the outer face of the head portion 23', corresponding to the head portion 23, before mentioned, a series of small knobs or teeth 28 are formed, spaced longitudinally of the post, so that when my bracket is applied with its central portion disposed against the head portion and come to rest upon a knob, it

' will be supported against downward vertical movement.

In Figures '7 and 8, there is illustrated another type of post with which my invention may be used without modification from the first described form, this post being customarily formed with an L-angle shape in section, and with a plurality of longitudinal slots 29 spaced longitudinally of the post, and formed closely adjacent the base of one of the flanges of the post material. Customarily, the tongues 20 of my bracket are of a thickness to pass readily into the slots. Also, the flange portions of this tvpe of post are customarily of the same width as the head portion 23 of the post first described, and consequently, by presenting my bracket device with the axis of the lug l5 normal to the unslotted flange 30 of the last mentioned post, in the same way that it is presented toward the head 23 of the first described post, one of the tongues 20 may be positioned so as to enter one of the slots 29, and by then rotating the device counter-clockwise, as before, the tongues may be caused to enter such slot, at the same time as the tongue on the opposite end of the bracket is caused to engage under the free edge of the flange 30, thus securing the device upon the post, substantially in the same manner as it is secured upon the T-shaped post, but requirin no fastening device or knobs to prevent its slipping on the post. The application of the wire to the device is then carried out in the same manner as firs described.

In Figures 9, 10 and 11, the bracket is shown as supported by knobs 28' medially of the post, the bracket being in reversed position from that shown in Figure 1, so that the recess I4 receives the knob 28 for secure support of the bracket.

In Figures 12, 13 and 14, a similar form of the bracket is shown, with the exception that the tongue portions 20' are turned in a clockwise direction under the body portion of the bracket, 50 that when it is applied to a post, it is necessary to rotate it clockwise, instead of counterclockwise, as in the first described form. The direction of extension of these tongues and 20' is discretionary, and may be adapted to the requirements of particular uses. There is also illustrated the expedient of utilizing an aperture 31 in the medial portion of the bracket near the lug l5, and in the type of post shown at 32, in Figure 12, where a multiplicity of staggered longitudinally spaced slots 33 are formed in the post, a pin 34 may be engaged through the aperture 3| and through one of the slots 33 to prevent vertical slippage or rotation of the bracket on the post in the application, as indicated.

In Figures 16 and 17 the bracket III-a is shown as formed entirely of porcelain, as an integral body, the parts otherwise being the same as previously described.

In order to facilitate the application of the wire, as described and illustrated in Figure I have provided a tool 35, which may be formed integrally from sheet metal, to provide a handle portion and spanner arms 36 extended sufficiently to pass on each side of the lug IS on one of my brackets and spaced from the lug somewhat, one of these arms having an inturned hook 31 at its extremity, while the other is bent inwardly flat upon itself a short distance and then recurved outwardly, to present a saddle recess at 38, in which the wire may be engaged. In order to use this appliance, the bracket having been applied to the post, and the wire strung at the proper tension, the hook 31 is engaged over the wire at the right-hand side of the lug IS in the first described form of the device, with the handle pendant, and with the saddle portion 38 below the wire, it is then rotated in a clockwise direction, so that the saddle portion will press upwardly against the wire, and the movement continued, so that the wire intervening between the two arms 36 will be rotated on an axis coincident with the axis of the lug I5 until this rotated part of the wire may be pressed inwardly into the space I! between the lugs 16, after which the tool is released, so that the wire straightens itself by its inherent tension and fits itself under the bills l8 and against the lugs l6, as before described, so as to retain the wire in place and also press the bracket device into proper engagement with the post. The same tool may be used where the left-hand type of bracket shown in Figure 12, except in this case the hook portion is engaged over the left-hand part of the wire, and the saddle portion engaged upwardly against the wire at the right, and the intervening portion of the wire rotated counter-clockwise. It will be understood that in the left-hand type of bracket, the tongue 20' being extended in a clockwise direction, the bills l8 of the device and the lugs l5 upon which they are formed, have an arrangement the reverse of that in the first described form, so that these bills project in a counter-clockwise direction instead of the clockwise direction involved in the device as shown in Figures 1 to 9, and 15.

customarily, wire for telephone and telegraph would be insulated where it is applied to fences and the like, and in such event the whole device may be formed of metal, if desired. Other expedients for insulating or facilitating production of the article may be carried out as found desirable, as may be readily understood.

While I have disclosed my invention with great particularity, in the best forms known to me, it will nevertheless be understood that this is purely exemplary, and that various changes in construction, arrangement and combination of parts, substitution of materials and substitution of equivalents, mechanical and otherwise, may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention except as may be more specifically indicated in the appended claims, wherein:

I claim:

1. A device for mounting wires and the like on supports comprising a base member having offset, inturned tongue portions extending inwardly in opposite directions, and in spaced relation to receive the support therebetween and for rotation in the direction of projection of said tongues to engage the same with the support, and a Wirereceiving member at the side of said base portion opposite said tongues, said wire-receiving portion having also correspondingly spaced bills projected in opposite directions for engagement with a wire laid therebetween by relative rotative movement in a direction opposite the said movement for engagement of said tongues with the support.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which said base member is a substantially fiat member having the inturned tongue portions bent in toward one side thereof on parallel lines and then inwardly in spaced relation with the base member extending diagonally with respect to said lines, whereby t0 lie in spaced relation for reception of a support therebetween.

3. The structure of claim 1 in which said wire supporting member consists of 2. lug body projected outwardly from said base member and having outwardly projected jaw portions spaced apart substantially more than the diameter of the wire to be engaged and supported, in one direction, and in a direction at right angles to the first named direction spaced apart a distance closely corresponding to the diameter of the wire to be engaged, and having the spaced bills projected from said jaw transverse to the last mentioned direction, for the purposes described.

4. The structure of claim 1 in which said base member is formed with an exterior tongue adja cent its middle part at one side, to extend verti cally close beside and engage support for reception of a support lug therebeside to oppose rotation of the device in the direction of release.

WALTER HENRY MAACK. 

